My Apostolic Shepherd's Journey*

      SCRIPTURAL AND PERSONAL REFLECTIONS FROM DR. KENNETH STEVENSON, JR.

    Although some do not believe that the apostolic calling exists today, the scriptures teach otherwise. Paul wrote about the specific calling of the apostle as well as the other callings within the one Body of Christ, which is called by one Spirit, one Lord, one hope, one faith, one baptism and "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ...And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: For whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love...And be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Eph. 4:1-23, excerpt).

     Even while Dr. Stevenson was serving as a pastor, a prophet spoke of his apostolic calling and the calling of prophet(ess) upon his wife, Pastor Mary. These callings were certainly confirmed in miracles, signs and wonders that filled the ministry. There have been many healings of those whom the doctors had proclaimed that there was no hope.

     We are all called - out of darkness and into righteousness. There are five gifts mentioned here in the verses above for the Church, but there are more also. There is only one Body of Christ, although that unity has been difficult to achieve. Being one Body, each member of the Body is important. The hand cannot say to the eye, 'You are not part of the Body.' As the verses above say, all of the gifts to the Church, including apostles and prophets, are needed until the unity of the faith is achieved and until the believers have come into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body. This growing up even into Christ is maturity. We have not yet attained this perfection. Paul also wrote that the Church edifies itself in love. Can we learn to love one another in spite of our differences? This requires that we be renewed in our minds. 

     Paul wrote of this renewal again in Romans: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (or spiritual worship). And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2). 

     Paul also again stressed the oneness of the Body of Christ: "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another...Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good...Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer....Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not....Be of the same mind one towards another...Be not wise in your own conceits...If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (v. 5-18, excerpt).

     The Word of God to the Body is straightforward: Love God and love your neighbor. Paul mentions being steadfast in prayer. Dr. Stevenson said that he has found that continued prayer has become part of his lifestyle, as well as the continuing focus of the ministry. We have always given freely as a Church. While Paul instructs us to live peaceably with all men as much as possible, we lately see some of the Church in general embracing violent and racist philosophies, such as Christian Nationalism, which does not follow the Word of God.

     In the Book of Colossians, Paul wrote to the Church about being physically absent from them, however: "For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him...Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Col. 2:1-10, excerpt). 

     Are you complete in Christ, in the fulness of Him? Have you been "spoiled" with philosophies, traditions and the things of the world rather than of Christ?

     As Paul could not be present physically with this Church, Dr. Stevenson and his wife, Mary, have found themselves physically separated from the church in New York at this time, but always present with them in spirit. As this ministry meets together regularly over the internet through various applications such as Zoom, some have not continued to join those internet meetings. We look forward to the day when we all meet together, either by internet, or hopefully in person.

     These various challenges have also been written of in scripture. Jesus quoted the prophets when He said: "All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Mt. 26:34, Zech. 13:6-7). 

     Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the Gospel: "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began....Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles...for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against the day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 1:6-13, excerpt).

     The holy callings of God, including the apostolic, are eternal, from before the world began. (see also Jer. 1:5, Ps. 139:16). Instead of running from the afflictions that may strike the shepherd, share in them, for they are the afflictions of the Gospel. The words that Paul brought to Timothy and the Church still stood as sound, even though Paul was afflicted and unable to be physically present. We do not walk in a spirit of fear, but in power, love and a sound mind (v. 7).

     It becomes even more important to understand the gift from God of the truly called shepherd, apostle, pastor, prophet, etc., as the Church experiences false prophets and false shepherds as the prophets warned. Jeremiah wrote: "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jer. 5:30-31).

     Ezekiel also prophesied the Word of the LORD to the false shepherds: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel...Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?...my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock." (Ezek. 34:1-2, 8).

     The Church is seeking out the false prophets and false shepherds rather than the true prophets and shepherds in these perilous times.

     The Book of Hebrews exhorts the people of Christ to continue to meet together faithfully, especially as we see the return of Christ drawing near: "Let us hold fast the profession (homologia - say the same as) of our hope without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:19-25, excerpt).

     Are we assembling together with the Church of Jesus Christ, that professes the same thing as Christ, or with "the Church of What's Happening Now", where the words of Christ are not being professed? Although Dr. Stevenson says that his own apostolic ministry has been hindered at various times, he still presses on in the high calling of Christ. The signs of the times tell us that the return of Christ is near, and the Church must pray, light their lamps, make disciples and be the sons and daughters of God through belief in Jesus Christ.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 3/9/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at Kenneth Stevenson. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.